The population is at "significant risk", it was claimed, after new figures revealed Sutton and Merton boroughs have the lowest childhood immunisation rates in the country.

The figures were revealed at the Sutton Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Monday, June 10, in a report on the Public Health Outcome Framework.

Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health, said: "The recorded childhood immunisation rates locally appear to pose a significant risk to the health of the population.

"However the number of cases of infection amongst residents has been relatively low in the past few years.

"This could reflect luck or that some immunised children are not officially recorded therefore leading to an overestimate of the risk to the health of the population.

"I have, as a matter of urgency, reviewed the accuracy of the immunisation records in Sutton.

"The poor quality of the information is not the only problem with the immunisation service. There are many children who are not vaccinated.

"The most vulnerable group is 10-16 year olds who have not had a MMR immunisation."

Dr Brendan Hudson GP, chairman of Sutton's Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "I urge parents of unimmunised children to contact their GP to arrange for them to be vaccinated."